An integrated view of data quality in Earth observation

Data quality is a difficult notion to define precisely, and different communities have different views and understandings of the subject. This causes confusion, a lack of harmonization of data across communities and omission of vital quality information. For some existing data infrastructures, data quality standards cannot address the problem adequately and cannot fulfil all user needs or cover all concepts of data quality. In this study, we discuss some philosophical issues on data quality. We identify actual user needs on data quality, review existing standards and specifications on data quality, and propose an integrated model for data quality in the field of Earth observation (EO). We also propose a practical mechanism for applying the integrated quality information model to a large number of datasets through metadata inheritance. While our data quality management approach is in the domain of EO, we believe that the ideas and methodologies for data quality management can be applied to wider domains and disciplines to facilitate quality-enabled scientific research

Bacterial coinfections in dengue virus disease: what we know and what is still obscure about an emerging concern

Dengue virus is the most frequent arthropod-borne viral infection worldwide. Simultaneously to the growth of its incidence, cases of bacterial coinfection in dengue have been increasingly reported. The clinical course of dual infections may worsen for reciprocal interactions and delays in the diagnosis, so that clinicians should be aware of this eventuality. Therefore, we reviewed literature to provide an overview of the epidemiological, clinical, and physiopathological issues related to bacterial coinfections and bacteremia in dengue.Clinical studies and case reports regarding bacteremia and bacterial coinfections in dengue and the interactions between the pathogens published on PubMed were reviewed.We found 26 case reports, only 3 studies on concurrent bacteremia and 12 studies reporting data on bacterial coinfections in dengue. According to the three available studies, the 0.18-7 % of dengue infections are accompanied by concurrent bacteremia, while the 14.3-44.4 % of dengue-related deaths seem associated to bacterial coinfections. Comorbidities, advanced age, and more severe dengue manifestations could be risk factors for dual infections. A longer duration of fever and alterations in laboratory parameters such as procalcitonin, hyponatremia, leukocyte count, and renal function tests can raise the suspicion.Despite the real burden and consequences of this emerging concern is still not computable accurately due to the lack of a significant number of studies on large cohorts, clinicians need a greater awareness about it to early recognize warning signs, to properly use available diagnostic tools and to readily start antibiotic treatment able to prevent worsening in mortality and morbidity

Can We Rely on Open-Source Energy System Optimization Models? The TEMOA-Italy Case Study

Energy system models have become crucial to assess the effectiveness of possible energy policies in pursuing the declared environmental objectives. Among bottom-up models, the tools most widely used by researchers and institutions to perform scenario analyses and policy evaluations rely on commercial software and closed databases, limiting the transparency of the studies. The purpose of this work is to demonstrate that open-source tools, relying on open databases, can be used as a valid alternative to commercial tools, getting equivalent results not only for simple case studies as done so far, but also for complex (national, regional, or multi-regional) reference energy systems. Working on the already available open TEMOA optimization framework, a bottom-up technology-rich model is developed here for the Italian reference energy system on an extended TEMOA version, comparable in detail and complexity to the equivalent TIMES framework. The accuracy of the novel TEMOA-Italy model in a business-as-usual scenario is assessed, showing that the average relative differences with respect to the consolidated TIMES-Italy results are in the order of few percent. The open-source model, available on Github, is now ready for the test and implementation of new optimization paradigms, which was not possible in the TIMES framework

Analysis of the effects of electrification of the road transport sector on the possible penetration of nuclear fusion in the long-term european energy mix

The European Roadmap towards the production of electricity from nuclear fusion foresees the potential availability of nuclear fusion power plants (NFPPs) in the second half of this century. The possible penetration of that technology, typically addressed by using the global energy system EUROFusion TIMES Model (ETM), will depend, among other aspects, on its costs compared to those of the other available technologies for electricity production, and on the future electricity demand. This paper focuses on the ongoing electrification process of the transport sector, with special attention devoted to road transport. A survey on the present and forthcoming technologies, as foreseen by several manufacturers and other models, and an international vehicle database are taken into account to develop the new road transport module, then implemented and harmonized inside ETM. Following three different storylines, the computed results are presented in terms of the evolution of the road transport demand in the next decades, fleet composition and CO2emissions. The ETM results are in line with many other studies. On one hand, they highlight, for the European road transport energy consumption pattern, the need for dramatic changes in the transport market, if the most ambitious environmental goals are to be pursued. On the other hand, the results also show that NFPP adoption on a commercial scale could be justified within the current projection of the investment costs, if the deep penetration of electricity in the road transport sector also occurs

Remote digital monitoring during the retention phase of orthodontic treatment: A prospective feasibility study

Objective: To evaluate if a remote digital monitoring system added at the end of orthodontic treatment could positively influence the retention phase by reducing the occurrence of misfit of removable appliances, number of emergency appointments (EA), and orthodontic relapse. Methods: Twenty-seven patients who completed active orthodontic treatment were divided into the study and control groups. In addition to the standard chairside follow-up appointments at month 1 (T1), month 3 (T2), month 6 (T3), the study group patients were monitored using Dental Monitoring® with monthly intra-oral scans. Occurrence of misfit of removable retainers, number of EAs, and intercanine width change were recorded for both groups. Differences in EAs and retainer fit were assessed using the chi-square test. Intra-group and inter-group differences in the intercanine width were assessed with Friedman test and Mann–Whitney U test, respectively (α = 0.05). Results: The study group showed a significantly lower occurrence of misfit of removable retainers (p = 0.027) compared to the control group. No significant inter-and intra-group difference was found in the EAs and intercanine width change at each time-point. Conclusions: Integrating remote monitoring systems, such as Dental Monitoring®, to the retention phase of the orthodontic treatment may lower the occurrence of misfit of removable retainers. However, a small sample size and a short observation period limit the strength of this evidence. These preliminary results tentatively suggest that remote monitoring technologies may be beneficial, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the regularity of in-office visits might be disrupted

Effects of remote digital monitoring on oral hygiene of orthodontic patients: a prospective study

Background: Remote digital monitoring during orthodontic treatment can help patients in improving their oral hygiene performance and reducing the number of appointments due to emergency reasons, especially in time of COVID-19 pandemic where non-urgent appointments might be discouraged. Methods: Thirty patients scheduled to start an orthodontic treatment were divided into two groups of fifteen. Compared to controls, study group patients were provided with scan box and cheek retractor (Dental Monitoring®) and were instructed to take monthly intra-oral scans. Plaque Index (PI), Gingival Index (GI), and White Spot Lesions (WSL) were recorded for both groups at baseline (t0), every month for the first 3 months (t1, t2, t3), and at 6 months (t4). Carious Lesions Onset (CLO) and Emergency Appointments (EA) were also recorded during the observation period. Inter-group differences were assessed with Student's t test and Chi-square test, intra-group differences were assessed with Cochran’s Q-test (significance α = 0.05). Results: Study group patients showed a significant improvement in plaque control at t3 (p = 0.010) and t4 (p = 0.039), compared to control group. No significant difference was observed in the number of WSL between the two groups. No cavities were detected in the study group, while five CLO were diagnosed in the control group (p = 0.049). A decreased number of EA was observed in the study group, but the difference was not significant. Conclusions: Integration of a remote monitoring system during orthodontic treatment was effective in improving plaque control and reducing carious lesions onset. The present findings encourage orthodontists to consider this technology to help maintaining optimal oral health of patients, especially in times of health emergency crisis

The use of CBCT in orthodontics with special focus on upper airway analysis in patients with sleep-disordered breathing

Applications of cone-beam CT (CBCT) in orthodontics have been increasingly discussed and evaluated in science and practice over the last two decades. The present work provides a comprehensive summary of current consolidated practice guidelines, cutting-edge innovative applications, and future outlooks about potential use of CBCT in orthodontics with a special focus on upper airway analysis in patients with sleep-disordered breathing. The present scoping review reveals that clinical applications of CBCT in orthodontics are broadly supported by evidence for the diagnosis of dental anomalies, temporomandibular joint disorders, and craniofacial malformations. On the other hand, CBCT imaging for upper airway analysis-including soft tissue diagnosis and airway morphology-needs further validation in order to provide better understanding regarding which diagnostic questions it can be expected to answer. Internationally recognized guidelines for CBCT use in orthodontics are existent, and similar ones should be developed to provide clear indications about the appropriate use of CBCT for upper airway assessment, including a list of specific clinical questions justifying its prescription

Exploratory data on the clinical efficacy of monoclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of concern

Background: Recent in-vitro data have shown that the activity of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) varies according to the variant of concern (VOC). No studies have compared the clinical efficacy of different mAbs against Omicron VOC. Methods: The MANTICO trial is a non-inferiority randomised controlled trial comparing the clinical efficacy of early treatments with bamlanivimab/etesevimab, casirivimab/imdevimab, and sotrovimab in outpatients aged 50 or older with mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection. As the patient enrolment was interrupted for possible futility after the onset of the Omicron wave, the analysis was performed according to the SARS-CoV-2 VOC. The primary outcome was coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) progression (hospitalisation, need of supplemental oxygen therapy, or death through day 14). Secondary outcomes included the time to symptom resolution, assessed using the product-limit method. Kaplan-Meier estimator and Cox proportional hazard model were used to assess the association with predictors. Log rank test was used to compare survival functions. Results: Overall, 319 patients were included. Among 141 patients infected with Delta, no COVID-19 progression was recorded, and the time to symptom resolution did not differ significantly between treatment groups (Log-rank Chi-square 0.22, p 0.90). Among 170 patients infected with Omicron (80.6% BA.1 and 19.4% BA.1.1), two COVID-19 progressions were recorded, both in the bamlanivimab/etesevimab group, and the median time to symptom resolution was 5 days shorter in the sotrovimab group compared with the bamlanivimab/etesevimab and casirivimab/imdevimab groups (HR 0.53 and HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.36-0.77 and 95% CI 0.30-0.67, p<0.01). Conclusions: Our data suggest that, among adult outpatients with mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection due to Omicron BA.1 and BA.1.1, early treatment with sotrovimab reduces the time to recovery compared with casirivimab/imdevimab and bamlanivimab/etesevimab. In the same population, early treatment with casirivimab/imdevimab may maintain a role in preventing COVID-19 progression. The generalisability of trial results is substantially limited by the early discontinuation of the trial and firm conclusions cannot be drawn. Funding: This trial was funded by the Italian Medicines Agency (Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco, AIFA). The VOC identification was funded by the ORCHESTRA (Connecting European Cohorts to Increase Common and Effective Response to SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic) project, which has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement number 101016167. Clinical trial number: NCT05205759

A novel primary human immunodeficiency due to deficiency in the WASP-interacting protein WIP

A female offspring of consanguineous parents, showed features of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS), including recurrent infections, eczema, thrombocytopenia, defective T cell proliferation and chemotaxis, and impaired natural killer cell function. Cells from this patient had undetectable WAS protein (WASP), but normal WAS sequence and messenger RNA levels. WASP interacting protein (WIP), which stabilizes WASP, was also undetectable. A homozygous c.1301C>G stop codon mutation was found in the WIPF1 gene, which encodes WIP. Introduction of WIP into the patient’s T cells restored WASP expression. These findings indicate that WIP deficiency should be suspected in patients with features of WAS in whom WAS sequence and mRNA levels are normal

Association between abdominal aortic calcifications, bone mineral density and vertebral fractures in a cohort of HIV-positive patients

Introduction: Evidence from HIV-negative cohorts suggests a link between osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. We evaluated the presence and distribution of abdominal aortic calcifications (AAC) and its correlation with bone mineral density (BMD) and vertebral fractures (VF) in a cohort of HIV-positive patients. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 280 asymptomatic HIV-positive patients from the SPID (“San Paolo” Infectious Diseases) cohort were submitted to lateral spine X-ray and DXA. AAC was identified using the AAC-8 score, which estimates the total length of calcification of the anterior and posterior aortic walls in front of vertebrae L1–L4. Low BMD was defined by T-score or Z-score <−1 at lumbar spine or femoral neck. VF were identified by morph-metric analysis of X-ray and were defined by the “spine deformity index” (SDI) ≥1 according to semiquantitative method by Genant. Associations between AAC, BMD and SDI were evaluated by univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. The relationship between the grade of AAC and SDI was evaluated by Spearman's correlation. Results: AAC≥1 was present in 65 patients (23.2%); of these 15 patients showed moderate/severe calcifications (AAC>2). Low BMD was found in 163 patients (58.2%) and VF (SDI≥1) in 47/274 patients (17.1%). By univariate analysis, factors associated with AAC>=1 were: age (for additional 10 years older HR 3.81 [IC95% 2.64–5.51], p<0.0001) lower CD4 nadir (for additional 50 CD4 HR 0.89 [IC95% 0.82–0.97], p=0.01) AIDS-diagnosis (HR 2.13 [IC95 % 1.11–4.08], p=0.02) and being on HAART (HR 2.75 [IC95% 1.28–5.90], p=0.009). In multivariate analysis, only age (OR 2.62, IC95% 1.72–3.99, p<0.0001) resulted significantly associated with AAC≥1. Patients with AAC≥1 had twofold increase in the risk of low BMD (HR 2.45 [IC95% 1.32–4.45], p=0.004) and VF (SDI>=1: HR 2.17 [IC95% 1.1–4.2], p=0.02) compared to patients without AAC. The grade of AAC was directly correlated with the grade of SDI (rho=0.16; p=0.008): AAC>2 determines a sixfold increase in the risk of VF (HR 6.44 [IC95% 2.21–18.79], p=0.0006). AAC≥1 predict VF independently from BMD, vitamin D status and bone turnover marker (Table 1). Conclusions: In our HIV population, AAC resulted a strong predictor of both low BMD and VF, irrespective of factors involved in bone formation. The grade of AAC was directly correlated with the grade of VF